Stranger to Joy

FREYA'S POV

We entered the hospital, my father taking the lead. The antiseptic smell hit me first—familiar, almost comforting in its constancy. He approached the front desk where a nurse tapped at her keyboard, eyes never leaving the screen.

"We're here to see—" he started.

"Third floor, Ward B," she interrupted once she saw who we were, while gesturing vaguely toward the elevator. I could have re